Lesson 2: New England

Lesson Focus

Discover how New England was settled not for profit, but by people seeking religious freedom. This lesson explores their journey and the unique, self-governing societies they built, setting a new precedent for America.

People to Know

John Winthrop, Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson

Learning Objectives

• Explain the complex relationship between church and state in the Puritan-led New England colonies.
• Identify key reasons self-government, including written constitutions and representative bodies, developed throughout New England.

To escape religious persecution, English Separatists called Pilgrims left for America.
Their ship, the Mayflower, landed far north of Virginia, so they created the Mayflower Compact, an agreement to form their own government.
After a deadly first winter, they survived with help from an Indian named Squanto. Under Governor William Bradford, the Plymouth colony was established, eventually becoming part of the larger Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691.

Persecution by King Charles I drove thousands of Puritans from England.
They formed the Massachusetts Bay Company and, led by John Winthrop, sailed to New England in 1630 to build a perfect Christian society. Winthrop called their new home “a city upon a hill.”
This “Great Migration” brought 20,000 settlers over ten years, who established Boston and other flourishing towns based on their reformed religious principles.

The Massachusetts Bay Company charter did not name a location for its headquarters.
John Winthrop used this loophole to move the company and its charter to America, creating a commonwealth—a self-governing political unit. Power first rested with the General Court, made up of shareholders.
Soon, all Puritan men gained the right to vote for representatives, transforming a company meeting into a colonial legislature. Each church congregation also held local power.

Dissenters, or those who disagreed with Puritan leaders, faced harsh treatment.
Roger Williams, a minister, was banished for preaching that government would corrupt the church and that land must be bought from Indians.
He fled south and in 1636 founded Rhode Island, a colony built on the principles of religious tolerance and the complete separation of church and state. Note that this was a radical idea for its time.

Puritan intolerance and a desire for better land led to more colonies.
Anne Hutchinson was banished for her religious teachings. John Wheelwright was expelled and founded New Hampshire, creating the Exeter Compact for government. Thomas Hooker led settlers to Connecticut for more freedom and fertile soil.
Pay special attention to Connecticut, which adopted the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut in 1639, the first written constitution in America.